There are a few companies that make all of the Transportation/Lead Acid Batteries. If you were to visit one of their production facilities you would see so many batteries there with other companies names on them. Basically sub contracted.
If you were to get the .25 cent tour (I was once privileged to such a tour) you may be shown these "farmed out" batteries interior components compared to that companies own "quality" components.
In terms of the interior led plates, (cells) they are larger and extend nearly to the bottom of the plastic housing.
Those made on subcontract will have cells that may extend 2/3 of the way, or less, to the bottom. These batteries may have familiar names offering 5+ year warranty with one or two year unconditional warranty. The company selling them is able to purchase them cheap enough that they can afford to do that. They spend lots of money advertising their "Brand" and promoting their warranty. But their 60 month batteries are more than likely a 36 month battery.....with a big warranty scheme. (that keeps you coming back in the belief that your prorated warranty is something of value) Fine if you don't mind the occasional inconvenience of a battery break down. Which will be required to redeem the old battery for a new one with cost adjustment of course.
The largest lead acid battery maker is likely:
East Penn Manufacturing Co. Lyon Station, Pa with 7800 employees.
I used to buy Gould Batteries from Zanesville, Ohio but they went out of business in 2014. Exide (of Milton, Ga) makes batteries for many companies too.
Rural King is near me and they sell "RK" brand batteries made by Exide and I've had great luck with them.
RK is big in the Mid Atlantic states & Florida. So a lot of snow birds buy them.
Gould used to be in my home town but moved to Zanesville, Ohio in the mid 60's. I got the tour of the Zanesville plant and the guy showing me the place was happy to meet someone from back home. I counted at least a dozen nationally advertised brands they were producing on sub contract. This was when my tour guide showed me the difference in the cells that were used. Then he told me that if their battery said it was a 60 month unit, that it would generally exceed the warranty.
